Memorial to the 172 children and two teachers who died in America's biggest school accident. The Collinwood School fire occured on March 4, 1908, at the Lakeview Elementary school. The fire began shortly after 9am when an overheated steam pipe came in contact with wooden joists. Only 194 of 366 students escaped. The others were trapped inside the rear first floor exit. Nineteen bodies could not be identified and are buried in a common grave at Lake View Cemetery along with 150 students whose identity were known. Reports claimed that the doors opened inward, and the children were jammed against the doors by the panic stricken children pushing to get out. Examination of the building along with eyewitness accounts proved indeed that the doors opened outward and that the children's failure to escape resulted from their own panic. The Collinwood School fire caused numerous school inspections across the country and stricter laws. (bio by: Joyce)